Diner owner just split town, manager says

As we noted last week, the longtime Saratoga Diner on South Broadway closed mysteriously and without notice or fanfare. For many, it left a hole in their diet and social scene. But for the restaurant’s manager, Krista Arpey, the closing of the eatery means she cannot support her three young children.

In an interview Friday, the 23-year-old resident of Greenfield Center said that the diner’s owner, George Kakavelos, shut down the restaurant without telling its 15 employees. Arpey said that she was closing down – in the last 15 minutes of a 16-hour shift – on Jan. 30, when a woman representing Kakavelos walked into the diner and told them that the place would immediately close. This is like, out of the blue.

Arpey basically ran the place. Kakavelos told her through others that city officials took away the diner’s operating license, and the business wasn’t making money. But Arpey, who had command of the establishment’s financial books, disputed both of those as untrue. Now, the owner has cut town and can’t be reached.

“He won’t talk to me or anyone,” Arpey said. ”I have three kids that I can’t provide for. I worked for him, trusted him and he didn’t have the decency to tell me he was closing.”

Kakavelos again could not be reached for comment at the Travers Diner in Gloversville, which he owns. He paid the Saratoga employees their final paychecks, Arpey said.

The young mother has filed for unemployment. Her children are 11 months, 3- and 4-years-old. Her husband, Zachary, works as an assistant manager at Hannaford. If you know of a job for Krista Arpey and/or her fellow employees, please email her at Arpey23@hotmail.com.

11 Responses

I just wanted to clear a few things up. Krista Arpey was only a manager for a week. The previous manager was employed by George for about 5 years on and off. She quit due to harassment, poor work conditions and alleged theft by the current manager.

Hey what’s the big deal %&^# happens. If this Greek decided he had enough and wanted to split who is he answerable to? He probably had a bad at the casino, or maybe a lot of bad days. He was an independent business owner does that say it all?

This is the most rediculous article I have ever read from this newspaper. I only wish I had stumbled upon it earlier. I have been in contact with Mr. Kakavelos numerous times in the past month, including during the week of the closing. I actually had a brief meeting with him on the morning of February 9th and can assure you that he has not “split town”. This so called manager should not only be embarrassed, but ashamed as well for the false statements she has made.

I have been working for Mr. Kakavelos for 17 years. I am the only bookeeper he has had for several years. I can firmly state that Mrs. Krista Arpey worked for the business for less than 11.5 months total, and never at anytime was she a “manager.”